For the second time in recent months there is a new Interim CEO at Geary Community Hospital. JC Post learned from reliable sources that the change was supported by the Hospital Board and CHC, Community Hospital Corporation, which is the company responsible for managing Geary Community.
Frank Corcoran has been named the new Interim CEO after serving since October as the Chief Nursing Officer. He succeeds Don Smithburg, who Corocan noted has moved on with CHC. "As he's moved on to do some other things it created an immediate space. I was selected by the Board to continue on as interim to finish out what Don has started." Corchoran added he was privileged to serve the community, Geary County, the hospital and the patients. "Just an honor to be here."
JC Post checked with Don Smithburg, who chose not to make any comment.
“Geary Community Hospital and the Board of Trustees have seen measurable results with the assessment and management oversight of Community Hospital Corporation (CHC). As we step forward toward permanent change for our hospital, we are pleased to see Frank Corcoran serve as our CEO. He has not only brought tremendous experience and leadership to our hospital but he has also shown a strong sense of respect for our Community,” said Theresa Bramlage, Board Chair.
Corcoran has RN, BSN and MHA degrees and 28 years of healthcare experience. Prior to joining Geary Community Hospital, he served as Chief Nursing Officer/Director of Physician Practice with Quorum Health Resources (QHR). He has worked to improve hospital operations, clinical quality and customer satisfaction in several leadership roles.
Geary Community Hospital is managed by Community Hospital Consulting (CHC Consulting, the management and consulting arm of Community Hospital Corporation of Plano, Texas. CHC Consulting specializes in the management and operation of smaller, community-based hospitals across the country.
Corcoran confirmed that CHC has a current contract until September with Geary Community to do a turnaround to stabilize the hospital financially. "The hopes are that we get a long term deal to manage the hospital moving forward."
The hospital has received federal aid totaling several million dollars, but right now GCH officials are working to determine how much of that will have to be paid back and how much can be put into operations. Pending that review the specific amount has not yet been released, but Corcoran pledged to do so at a future time.
He noted GCH is stabilizing, but if you remove all of the extra funding the hospital is still operating at a slight loss. The goal is to increase the volume and service lines to help the hospital improve.
Corcoran began as Interim CEO on Tuesday. There is a new Chief Financial Officer, Richard Lewis.